MEGATON LEVIATHAN
MEGATON LEVIATHAN “Magick Helmet”
By Lord Randall
When a band (or solo act, in this case) bio begins with “creating a sound that would stump critics and come to be known as Doomgaze”, my eyes begin to itch, I feel that familiar sick-to-the-back-teeth taste that comes when a single entity claims to have “created” a new sub-subgenre. Wait, isn’t “Doomgaze” a sub-sub-subgenre, then? All I know that sole member Reuscher – doing business as MEGATON LEVIATHAN – has his work cut out for him on “Magick Helmet”.
So, let’s put this right out front; it seems the paramount reason for the existence of MEGATON LEVIATHAN’s 4th is to show off his flashy bespoke “Doomgazer” (yes, seriously) effects pedal made in partnership with Emmergy FX UK, a company that specializes in that sort of thing. And quite frankly, halfway into “The Final Form Of Nothing Is Final”, I’m not hearing anything groundbreaking. MY BLOODY VALENTINE was doing this shit on major labels without all the flashy equipment back in the ‘80s, truly becoming an innovator in what would become known as shoegaze. See? Get it? Doomgazer. Sure, the effects are interesting, but through the entire album the bass/drums are relegated to afterthoughts, when a true rhythm section might’ve enhanced whatever’s supposed to be going on here.
After a 5-minute excuse to use the phrase “(A Slight Return)” in a title, we’re tossed unwillingly into “The Belly Of The Beast”. Ooh, look here, something resembling an actual song. Now, mind you, we’re 3 minutes in, and there are 15 left, so hopes are Not High. I wish I was high. Maybe then I’d already have turned this off and switched to something worth anyone’s time. No, I would’ve. But my pain is for you, and now 1/3rd of the way through, I’m beginning to question if you’re worth it. So far, I’m failing to see what all the fuzz is about. Get it? Fuzz.
Finishing up with the blasphemously titled “Helios Creeds Magick Helmet” we’re dragged through nearly a full half-hour of exactly what has gone before. I know, you’d think within that amount of time I could find something interesting to say other than that Reuscher is unworthy to invoke the name of a true pioneer within song, that this entire “album” is the sound of one man alone in a room patting himself on the back for being a trailblazer, that listening to “Magick Helmet” has been one of my life’s great regrets. But I can’t. Utterly without merit. Listen to DUNGEON WEED’s “Mind Palace Of The Mushroom God” for the tone Reuscher wishes he had.